A tree stump grinder is a menacing piece of equipment, but you do not have to hire someone to use it for you. It is possible to grind a tree stump yourself if you know what steps you should be taking. Of course, many people recommend hiring someone to do this for you because they have the experience of using this piece of equipment.
Trim The Tree Stump
The first step to grinding a tree stump is to trim the stump. You need to trim the stump as close to the ground as possible. If you can clear the majority of the stump before grinding you will reduce the amount of work that the grinder has to complete. Ideally, the remaining part of the stump should be level with the ground.
Clear The Area Close To The Stump
Once the stump has been trimmed, you will need to clear the area around it. This means that any rocks and large debris should be moved. Your stump grinder has been designed to grind the tree stump, not the rocks and other hard objects that are around it.
Bare The Roots
If you are looking to clear your yard, you need to look at removing the surface roots as well as the tree stump. The surface roots may run for several feet from the trunk. This means that you need to locate all of the surface roots before you start chopping away at the trunk of the tree. These roots can be ground together with the stump to remove them from the yard.
Put On Safety Gear
Before you start grinding the stump, you need to ensure that you are safely covered. You should have safety glasses, gloves, and ear protectors. You should also ensure that your family members know when you will be grinding the stump so they can stand clear of the area.
Start Grinding
Once you are ready, you need to position the wheel of the grinder directly over the stump and turn it on. After the power is on, you will need to lower the wheel until it touches the stump. The machine will then start to break down the stump and you can use the level on the machine to move the wheel from side to side to ensure that all remaining portions of the stump are removed.
You should then let the wheel settle on the stump and create a hole which is approximately 10 inches deep. When you do this, you need to ensure that your feet are out of the way as you grind into the stump.
If you are grinding a hardwood stump, you should not force the machine into the stump. It is better to rest the blades of the machine and allow it to skim the stump to demolish it. This will take a lot of time, but it will prevent any damage to the grinder.
After grinding the stump, you will be able to start grinding the exposed roots. You should methodically move along the roots from where they attach to the stump to where they disappear into the soil.